davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07
WANTS $4,OOO,OOO.
The Suit Brought by Jesse Farley Against
j.. j. Hill ct al.

Eight or nine years ago the st. Paul &
Pacific railroad bonds were drug in the
financial market Fhe line had been
built by Dutch capital, and the bonds
we're nearly all owned in Holland. The
country had not recovered from financial
depression, and railroad stocks of all kinds
we're very low. The ST. Paul & Pacific
bonds we're quoted at five cents on the
dollar, and this opportunity for specula-
tion was not lost on Jesse P. Farley, res
ident of Dubuque, Iowa. He approached
J. j. Hill, now president and principal
owner of the Manitoba railroad company
and advised him that for the small sum Of
$4,000 the bonds Of the road could be
purchased, controlling interest secured
and when the money movement should
again. become easier fortune could be
made. Mr.. Hill hadn't. that amount of
money to his credit at that time, but he
went to Commodore Kittson, warm
friend, and pointed out the advantages to
be derived from the purchase. Commo-
dore Kittson hadn't the money, but he
had warm friends in Canada who possessed
a controlling interest in the Bank of Mon
treal, and there the money was procured
and the purchase made. Two others be-
side Mr.. Kittson, Mr. Hill and Mr.. Farley
we're interested in the deal, and each was
to have one-ffth interest. Mr.. Farley's
modesty, or perhrps some other motive,
prevented his name appearing as one Of
the purchasers, and when the deal was
finally consumated he was-as he claims
in his complaint in the transac-
ton. He made every effort to have his
value Of the stock appreciated rapidly, and
when Commodore Kittson sold out his
interest he realized sum that seven fig
ures are required to enumerate. Every
one knows what the Manitoba road is to-
day, and what it's stock is quoted at, and
knows further that the st. Paul & Pacific
franchise is the keystone of the entire fab
ric. The sum Mr.. Farley demands is
nearly 100000, and the case, after being
tried in the United States courts of the
state, went to the supreme court of the
nation and was returned with the advice
that the complainant had grounds for ac-
tion, and ordered the taking of testimony.
Thus far nearly six hundred pages Of tes-
timony has been taken and the end is not
yet. Mr.. Farley is fortunately man of
means, and he never expects to see the
end of the case because of his advanced
years. He will leave the lawsuit as leg
acy to his son. The case bids fair to be
another case Of "Jarndyce VS.. Jarndyce," ;"
without the romance that Dickens wove
about that historic litigation. Pioneer
Press
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07
Nobody Wants Them.

News having been sent out from Wash
ington, that an attempt was to be made to
remove a portion of the northern Indians
to the Crow reservation, the citizens of
Billings have met in mass meeting, and
voiced their indignation at the contempla-
ted outrage. The authorities seem to
think that the proposed location is pre-
ferable to the one now existing close to
the international boundary line, as
trouble is constantly being fomented by
the continual raids made back and forth
between the British Indians and our own
Wherever the authorities may ultimately
decide to remove the Indians now roam
ing over the northern reservation. it may
be taken for granted that there will be
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07
LIVE STOCK MOVEMENT.
Numbers of Cattle and Sheep
Taken to Market by the Northern Pa
cific.

The widely circulated reports Of the loss
Of cattle in Montana last winter were such
az to convey the idea that there would be
heavy falling off in the live stock traffic
this fall. The conclusion however, is not
warranted by the facts as the figures will
prove. The Northern Pacific has hauled
east from Montana and Western Dakota
this season 72450 head of beef cattle
against 80,950 in 1886, a decrease of only
$500 head. Last year $3.50 head Of cattle
we're shipped east from Washington Ter
ritory, but on account Of the coast demand
being greater this year none were shipped,
50 that the shortage from Montana and
Western Dakota is only 622O head. The
number of sheep brought to market this
year by the Northern Pacific was 1898
head against 110,525 head last year, de-
crease of 1885 These figures show de-
crease in the stock movements Of only 10
per cent, whereas conservative judges had
estimated at least so per cent, as whole
focks of sheep were literally wiped out
last winter. In spite of the losses of last
winter and the decline in the market,
stockmen are now planning to replenish
their ranges, sand next year will see large
numbers of cattle driven into Montana
ard Western Dakota. The officers Of the
Northern Pacific road are very much
pleased with the showing in the stock
movement, as the company is sinterested as
deeply as any other one concern in the sue
cess of the 1--we stock industry in the North
West.-Pioneer Press.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07
A Shooting Scrape.

HELENA, December "A serious shoot
ing scrape occurred on Main street, near
Worth's saloon, at one o'clock this morn
ing John McTierney, familiarly known
under the sobriquet of "Flick," exchanged
shots with one Jerry Manning, and as
subsequently developed, the latter re-
ceived three wounds. The matter origi-
mated in trivial quarrel between the two
men, in which threats were freely uttered,
and on meeting soon after midnight on
Main street, Manning opened fire on his
opponent. Flick lost no time in giving
battle, and six shots we're quickly ex
changed, which resulted in Manning fall
ing severely wounded. Officers arrived at
the scene and arrested both parties, and
on examination Manning was found to
have received three wounds, one of which
is likely to prove fatal. Flick was un-
injured. The latter is generally regarded
as quiet and inoffensive individual; but
Manning on the contrary was of an ugly
and quarrelsome disposition, and was al
ways making a gun play of some kind.
Both men are now confined in the county
jail, and the friends of the imprisoned
men are greatly excited over the affair.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07
Rutte's Water Supply.

BUTTE, December 2.-The committee
appointed two weeks ago to investigate
the new water supply of the Silver Bow
Water company as to whether or not it
was contaminated by the sewerage from
the grave yard, made their report tonight
to the city cauncil. The committee con
sists of Major Kenyon, DR.. Haugh and AL
dermen Butler and Owsley and we're as
sisted in their work by leading mining
men, They sunk wells and in other ways
ascertained to their satisfaction that the
water underlying the whole section is con
taminated and that there are the best of
reasons to suspect that the grave yard
contaminates the water It was also dis
covered that a slaughter house with a
filthy corral is situated up the gulch from
the water works, and that the stream Of
water which passes through the same
must of necessity find its way to greater
or less extent into the reservoir WE'LL The
smelters in the vicinity also serve to rem
der the water r1nWholesome. The gater
in the wells near the smelter and slaugh-
ter house are entirely unfit for use. The
committee unhesitatingly condemn the
new supply.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07
The Future of the Manitoba.

It is stated by persons who are thor
oughly we'll informed that within two
years the systems now controlled by
Messrs. Hill and BroadWater will be
known by names only in history. There
is no longer any doubt that the directors
of the Chicago, Burlington 8 Northern
and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy have
their index finger pointed to Montana and
ultimately to Seattle and Puget Sound
It is not more than three years ago that
Wall street was much agitated by rumors
originating in we'll known financial circles
that overtures had been made to Presi-
dent Hill and the board of directors of the
Manitoba railroad towards joint interest
in the Manitoba system pointing to the
future control Of the latter company by
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. 1t is
within the recollection of many Of our fl
nancial men of Montana that this rumor
came from such well founded sources that
the Manitoba stock jumped fifteen points
in two days and gradually continued to
climb toward the maximum limit it had
touched during the previous two years.
In we'll informed eastern circles it is gen
orally believed that st. Paul and Mime
apolis are but temporary northern termi-
nails and that Helena, Butte and Anacon-
da are the objective points at which the
O., B. & N. is aiming by control of the
Manitoba-Montana Central system We
believe this statement to have some foun-
dation IN fact. The directors of both
roads quite recently left Boston and visit
ed northern Dakota and Montana, begin
ming at st. Paul and inspecting every
mile of the Manitoba road in daylight to
Fort Benton, Great Falls and Helena. On
reaching Helena they came to Butte and
Anaconda and gathered as many statistics
as to freight earnings in this district as
was possible, leaving thoroughly satisfied
that fair share of the traffic of Butte
and Anaconda, with the latters greatly
increased facilities in the immediate fu-
ture for the reduction of ores and conse-
quent increase in the present enormous
output OF copper matte, would alone fur
nish a profit sufficient to pay the operat-
ing expenses of their transportation de-
partment between those points and Dew
lis Dake.- Butte Miner.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07

of procedure is to swear in new senators,
two at time, in the order in which their
names are on the alphabetical list. The
two parties are exactly equal in strength
at the start, but with he administering
of the oath to the first senator on the list,
Mr.. Aldrich, the republicans will have a
majority and can control ahe current of
events if no delay in proceedings are re
sorted to. Members of both parties are
struggling closely and with view to
checking any attempt by their opponents
to secure an advantage The democrats
have caused kilograms to be sent to the
absent, summoning them to be present
tomorrow. The absent to-day we're, sen
ators George, Hearst, Blodgett, Hampton,
Gibson, Colquitt and Salisbury.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07
Territorial News.

It has been decided to form a post of
the g. A. r. at Anaconda.
The Butte street cable car line is now
almost completed. and will be operated by
a steam motor.
The citizens of Butte are considerably
elated over the new deal in freight rates,
which places them on an equal footing
with those of Helena. It was simple
matter of justice to the great mining
camp, and the new arrangement will
doubtless prove profitable to all concerned.
It looks as though Agent Williamson
was likely to get into some difficulty over
the leasing of grazing privileges on the
Grow reservation. He was instructed to
invite bids for the same, but let the con-
tract without receiving bids. Somebody
has been making about $4,000 year on
the transaction, and it is suspected that
Mr.. W. has finger in the pie.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07
Old Accounts Collected.

S. Toby, Jr., representing the United
States Mercantile Protective Association,
of New York city, with branch Office at
Helena has introduced amongst our mer-
chants the system Of the association he
represents, the object being to facilitate
the collection of debts, to prompt debtors
to pay, and to inform members regarding
people who do not pay, and thus prevent
merchants from being defrauded by a
class of people who never intend to pay
their honest bills. We hope to see the
merchants make the system source of
protection
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07
Neihart :, eWs.

J. Fl. Seifred, of Neihart, arrived IN the
city yesterday, and brings favorable news
regarding that promising camp. During
the past few weeks number Of men have
been engaged in doing representation work
on the mines on Snow creek, and the re-
suit of the developments so far have been
such to renew their confidence in the value
Of their respective properties. Mr.. Seifred
is himself interested in the Jenny Whipple,
and a recent assay Of ore from this prop
erty gave a showing of S53 in silver and
50 in gold to the ton. VIM. Seifred and
Gus Okerman are interested in the Snow
drift, and there is every Indication that
they have veritable bonanza. Messrs.
Briggs, Macqueen, Dune. Mcdonald,
Hamilton and others have also been at
work on their claims and are all we'll sat
isfied with their present prospects. The
ore in this district is free milling, and it
only needs transportation facilities to make
Neihart the most prosperous camp in the
west.
Mr.. Seifred states that the miners OF
Neihart find Benton the most satisfactory
trading point in this section; it is as con-
venient to reach as any other, and goods
can be purchased much lower in the Ben
ton market than elsewhere.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07

Sioux Cry, December 2.-To-day has
been one Of the most important days il
the trial of Arensdorf for the murder of
Haddock. Hon. Byron Webster, of Du-
buque, United States revenue collector,
testified that from about 10 o'clock until
the fatal shot was fred on the night Of
the murder he was in Sheperd's saloon
and restaurant and that Arensdorf was
not there. Theimportance of this evidence
consists Of the fact that Sheperd's is the
place where Arensdorf locates himself at
the moment Of the murder and for some
time before, and is vital portion of the
alibi
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07
A Wonderful Legacy.

e. K. Norris, who died on the street a
few nights ago, and who had for three
years been in charge of the upper floor of
the Comique' left legacy which bids fair
to stir Butte from center to circumfer
ence. It is neither more nor less than a
minu4e record of his daily life, detailing
the name Of every man who visited the
Comique, the company he was in, the
number of bottles he bought, how long he
stayed, and how full he was whenh went
home. 1t is truly wonderful document
and full of weird interest to those who do
not know where the Comique is. Norris
was jim Dandy, and left probably the
most important posthumous document Of
any man of modern times. 1t is believed
that he was slightly aberrated, but his
eyes were clearer than his head, and he
had an unhappy faculty of jotting down
everything that he saw. Had he lived
longer he could have disposed Of his diary
to the parties chiefly interested in it's sup
preston for about two-thirds of their
earthly possessions. Inter Mountoin.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07

WASHINGTON, November 30.-Four
Pinkerton detectives, employed by the
British members, are guarding the British
commissioners, and are keeping an es-
pecially vigorous eye on Mr.. Chamberlain
to see that some crank does not attempt
to exterminate him. Mr. Chamberlain
says he does not fear any violence. At
night one of the detectives guards his
sleeping apartments, and when he goes to
his meals the Pinkerton detectives occu-
py seats at the adjoining table until he
has finished, They are always around,
and when he goes out for walk or. drive
they are always with him. When in his
private apartments all callers upon Mr..
or any Of his party are eau
toned, questioned and observed by de-
tective, who stands sentry at the foot of
the stairway
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07

artificial light, as appears to have been
done in the case of the Manitoba road"
But ''it was necessary to haul portion of
the ties and rails out in advance" To
this the Railway Age says: at will be
seen that Mr.. Huntington confirms the
statement already made in these columns
to the effect that in accomplishing this
remarkable achievement the rails were
laid simultaneously at several points; and
hence it remains that the Manitoba per-
Torrance ranks as the most rapid work of
continuous tracklaying ever accomplish
ed"
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07
Railway Notes.
independent, 27th.1
cession.

lndepeudent, 2Ith.I
The Montana Central train went out
yesterday with hundred passengers.
The Montana Central yards extend to
the crossing Of the main line of the North
ern Pacific, two and half miles from the
depot
Plans have been prepared and work will
begin tomorrow on the erection of a
round house for the Montana Central. It
will contain seventeen stalls, be built of
brick and iron under the latest style of
architecture and located about 200 yards
westerly from the main depot building.
The passenger fares from Helena to
points on the Montana Central are as fol-
lows Single fares to Marysville juno
ton So cents, Mitchells, S1.45; Wolf Creek,
S1.9O; Craig, $3.50; Hardys, s3.05; Cascade,
S3.45; Ulm, s4.20; Great Falls 8490; Sand
Coule, $565 Round trip fares from Hell
ena to Marysville Junction, $155; Mitch
ellis, S265; Wolf Creek, S.. AS; Craig, S4.15;
Hardys, $3.50; Cascade, $625; Ulm, S760;
Great Falls, 1885; Sand Coulee, 5000.
The freight depot of the Montana Cen
trail is rapidly approaching completion,
and work has begun on the passenger
depot.
Mr. r. G. Power, who came out from st.
Paul over the Northern Pacific limited
express, is very enthusiastic over these
trains. He says they can hardly be ex-
ceeded by any of the celebrated trains on
the old roads of the east He says that
there is a little friction just now that
@ causes some delay, owing to the trains be-
ing started few months before it was
Intended to do so. This was caused by
the Union Pacific putting on fast trains
to Portland and attempting to capturethe
Oregon and Washington mail from the
Northern Pacific. The latter had to put
On it's fast train Immediately. Mr.. Power
says the roadbed is in most excellent con-
dition and everything will be running
smoothly in a very short time
The editor of the Railway Age has been
continuing the investigation into the rec
ords Of rapid railroad building and in pur-
Suance Of the work addressed letter to
Ar c. P. Huntington, of the Central and
Soathern Pacifcs, in regard to the matter.
Ihe latter replied that the Central Pacific
construction forces "roused themselves
end laid ten miles and few hundred feet
- one working day, without resorting to
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07
Fire at Wa1kervilIe.

BUTTE, December 1.-Six houses were
burned at Walkerville this morning at
about half past three o'clock. Sullivan's
boarding house, two frame buildings own
ed by Milton Rog rs & Son, of Omaha,
Dennis Driscoll's house, the Hibernla hall
and Foo Lees laundry. For "a time the
fire threatened to burn good portion OF
the town, but by the active work of the
Alice company's fremen, and by tearing
down some small buildings it was confn-
ed to the limits described. Sullivan's
loss is about $4,000, insured for $4,000
Hibernia hall, loss, $4,000; insured for
81, 800. The loss on other buildings is
about $4,000 with no insurance. The ori-
gin of the fire is not known. The de-
struction of Sullivan's place is in one re-
spect a blessing, as it was built in a sort
of sink hole and was most unhealthy.
Three of Sullivan's boys have died here
this fall from illness brought on by the
surroundings.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07
Which Jack holland +?

HELENA, December 81. Snyder, a
railroad laborer, yesterday made a gun
play at Jack holland, gambler, in an up
town barber shop. He was overpowered
when about to fire and received d severe
blow on the head with poker, inflicted
by holland. The melee was soon quieted
by the arrival of officers who marched the
combatants off to jail In the afternoon
they we're examined by Magistrate Eng
lish, resulting in the discharge Of Noland
and the conviction of his opponent. The
latter was awarded 30 days in the county
jail for bad behavior
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07
asking for q Repeal

The Helena Board of Trade met yester-
day and passed the following resolutions:
Whereas, An act Of congress, approved
March 7, 1887, entitled can act to restrict
the ownership of real estate in the terri
tories to American citizens" has had the
effect of entirely shutting out foreign
capital from investing in the mines and
mining property in Montana; and where
as, by the decision of the attorney general
of the United States the restriction of
ownership in real estate designed by said
law is held to be applicable to mineral
lands as we'll as to agricultural realty;
and, whereas, the aforesaid law of con-
gress is detrimental to the development
Of the mining lands and mineral resources
Of Montana; therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That the Helena Board of
Trade respectfully petition the congress
of the United States to repeal that por-
ton Of the act aforesaid that has refer
ence to foreign ownership in mines and
mineral lands in the territories.
Resolved, That copies of this resolution
be forwarded by the secretary to the Hon.
j. X. Toole, delegate in congress from
Montana, and to the president of the Unit
ed States senate Independent.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07
for the Permanent Line.-
Fifteen Thousand Ties!

The Manitoba is engaged in unloading
at the Benton side tracks fifteen thousand
railroad ties. While the employees here
do not have anything to say about what
these ties are intended for, it is we'll
known that they are to be used in build
ing the permanent line from the Marias
through the Cracon-du-Nez hill and up
the Missouri to Fort Benton. The Mani
toba proposes to get everything ready this
winter, and in the spring the heavy gra-
ding will be commenced from both ends.
Fifteen thousand ties will lay about seven
miles of track.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07
Suicide.

DENVER, December 2.-Coroner c. K.
Mediation, one of the most popular men
in this city, was found dead in bed to-day
from the effects of an overdose of lauda-
mum. The deceased had considerable do
mestic trouble lately, and for several days
and nights was unable to eat or sleep. It
is thought that the drug. was taken to
produce sleep, and not with suicidal in
tent. He was native of Louisville and
in high standing in the order of Knights
of Pythias.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07
Political Division of the House.

The clerk of the house has issued an
official list of members elect, by. which it
appears that the strength of parties will
be: Democrats, 1853; Republicans, 153;
independents 4. The four men classified
as Independents are: A. r. Anderson,
Iowa; John Nichols, North Carolina; Sam
uel I. Hopkins, Virginia, aud Henry Smith,
Wisconsin. In twenty states the Repub-
1icans are in the majority, and in the event
Ct the next presidential election being
thrown into the house, would cast the vote
Of that number of states for their candi-
date for president. One state, New Hamp-
shire, is equally divided. The vote Of the
four members classified as Independents,
cast with either party, would makeno diff
ference in the status Of the two great par
ties in this particular.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-12-07
A SQUARE DEAL.
Eastern Mail to Come via the st. P, M. & Nj
r. r., Commencing December 18th.

From the following telegram. received
this morning by Messrs. ". G. and G. E.
Conrad, it will be seen that the long wish
ed for change in the transportation of our
eastern mails will soon go into effect. I'm
der this arrangement, the mails will reach
here 60 hours out from st. Paul, saving
of 36 hours over the present route:
ST. PAUL, December 2.
Conrad Bros, Benton, Mont:
We have an order establishing mail
service on our line to Benton and Great
Falls, to begin the 10Th inst.
A. MARVEL.